Morrissey Unveiled as the Star of Supreme’s Spring/Summer 2016 Campaign (UPDATE: He's Not Happy About It)

Update (2/15/16) 2:45 p.m.: This looks to keep going back and forth, as Morrissey has once again posted a statement via True To You on this matter. Morrissey is now claiming he has never received any payment from Supreme for the shoot. He's also calling the shot "dreadful," saying it will not help Supreme in any way.

Sounds like Morrissey is unaware of the attention surrounding this campaign and the hype that's building up for this drop. It's pretty safe to say this will be one of the most coveted photo T-shirt releases in Supreme's recent past. Read Morrissey's latest statement below.

As a matter of fact, I do not have, do not want, nor do I need, any money from the company called Supreme.

If Supreme have sent money in my name then they could track it down and reclaim it - if they had NOT printed that photograph of me for their 2016 campaign.

By running prints of the photograph they have derailed their own negotiations. This is why they are angry.

The photograph is dreadful and will help neither myself nor Supreme. Who needs it? Nobody.

Supreme were warned by my lawyer and accountant that the photograph should NOT be used. Supreme ignored this advice. Hence this mess.

I write these statements because there is no one else to write them. The joy I receive from such statements is non-existent.

Update (2/13/16) 7:45 p.m.: Supreme has now issued its own lengthy statement on this matter via their official Facebook page.

The statement explains that the photos were shot back in July of 2015, with Morrissey being fully aware of all the details of the shoot and campaign beforehand. Morrissey was unsatisfied with the final results, and refused to sign off on an approved image with no explanation. Instead, he suggested Supreme use a photo of his choice, which was eventually shared on Instagram by his nephew, and therefore no longer a viable option for the campaign.

The project was left in limbo, and despite numerous communication efforts by Supreme to set up a re-shoot or reach another type of agreement, Morrissey and his camp never responded. In true "F**k You, Pay Me" fashion, Supreme went ahead and ran with the images for the campaign anyway, as their first drop of the Spring/Summer 2016 season is set to hit stores next Thursday, Feb. 18. See the full statement below:

Regarding Supreme/Morrissey:

In July of 2015 Supreme approached Morrissey to participate in one of it's poster and T-Shirt campaigns. The scope of the project was explained in full detail to Morrissey, including the intended look, the setting, the photographer, as well as the items that would be produced: a T-Shirt and a poster. An agreement was entered which named the photographer as Terry Richardson, who has shot many of Supreme's campaigns, and whom Morrissey has worked with before. Images of past campaigns were sent to
Morrissey for reference so that the intended result was clear. Morrissey required a substantial fee for his participation in this project which Supreme paid up front and in full. The photo shoot lasted two hours and Morrissey was free to do, and pose as he wished. The agreement prohibits Morrissey from "unreasonably" withholding approval of the use of photographs taken at the photo shoot.

After offering Morrissey several options of images from the shoot, Morrissey rejected them all with no explanation. Instead, Morrissey insisted on using a photo that he had taken of himself wearing a Supreme T-shirt for the campaign. This image was later made public on Instagram by his nephew.

Unable to use this image Supreme repeatedly offered Morrissey three very reasonable options as a remedy to the impasse: 1) To do an entire re-shoot at Supreme's sole expense, 2) To select one of the many options from the shoot with Terry Richardson that were offered to Morrissey, 3) To return the money that was paid to Morrissey by Supreme.

Morrissey repeatedly ignored all three options with no reason given as to why. He then proceeded to assert a sudden and ridiculous claim that because Supreme had used the White Castle logo on a group of products in the past, and because he is a known vegetarian, that the agreement was supposedly terminated.

In light of this ploy, Supreme once again requested the return of the money it had paid to Morrissey so that both parties could walk away from the project. However, he refused.

After many attempts to solve this problem, and left with no other viable options, Supreme proceeded to publish these images as per it's agreement with Morrissey.

Update (2/13/16) 6:15 p.m.:It appears that Morrissey isn’t at all happy with his photo being used in association with Supreme and even brought in his lawyers to try and prevent it from being released.

In a statement provided to True To You, a Morrissey fan site, the singer/songwriter states his disdain for the photograph and denounces Supreme for their involvement with White Castle. Morrissey, an outspoken animal rights activist, claimed he wasn’t aware of the partnership when the photo shoot took place. See the full statement below:

“I apologize enormously for the enfeebled photograph of me issued this week by Supreme. The shot was taken in October 2015. I considered the photograph to be fit only for a medical encyclopedia and I pleaded with Supreme not to use it. This was before I learned that Supreme were sponsored in part by the beef sandwich pharaoh known as White Castle. Supreme were issued with a legal caution not to use the photograph and their fee would be returned. Evidently Supreme have ignored my lawyer. No safety within the corridors of law. Ugh.I offer excessive apologies for this association. Shame is indeed the name.”

POST CONTINUES BELOW

See the original post below.

Posters featuring British musician Morrissey donning the iconic Supreme box logo began to pop up across the globe this week and now the collaboration appears to be confirmed. Supreme creative director Angelo Baque took to his Instagram to post a photo of the posters with the caption “I think I can retired now…El Fin.”

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